The 323-meter MSC Seascape turned back to port on Sunday, November 8, just hours after departing Galveston, Texas, following the death of a woman on board.
The vessel, which carries 5,877 passengers and 1,650 crew members, returned to the Texas coast on Monday, November 9, where the FBI took a 48-year-old suspect into custody, as reported by Schuttevaer.nl.
According to a criminal complaint cited by Nieuwsblad, the suspect, identified as 48-year-old Jason Watford of Tyler, Texas, allegedly confessed to strangling his wife, Susan Watford, following an argument during dinner.
The suspect reportedly told investigators that he “snapped” during the dispute, striking the victim before applying pressure to her neck for four to five minutes until he became exhausted, Nieuwsblad reported.
The FBI initiated an investigation into the incident, which occurred on the first day of a week-long cruise scheduled to visit Mexico and Honduras. While passengers were initially informed of a medical emergency, the nature of the event became clear as authorities boarded the ship upon its return to Galveston.
De Telegraaf said that the vessel, which entered service in 2022 and sails under the Maltese flag, eventually resumed its voyage to Mexico on the afternoon of November 9.
Law enforcement officials have confirmed that a child was involved in the incident, though it remains unclear whether the child was present in the cabin during the altercation. The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services has said that the child is safe and currently placed in foster care.
Court documents indicate this was not the suspect’s first arrest involving the victim. In September 2024, Jason Watford was arrested for the alleged assault of his wife, leading to a conviction in November of that year for which he received a 15-month suspended sentence and 30 hours of community service, Nieuwsblad reported. De Telegraaf added that reports from American media identified the victim of that 2024 incident as a “housemate.”
- What is the current status of the MSC Seascape?
- The ship resumed its journey to Mexico on the afternoon of Monday, November 9, and was expected to complete its remaining scheduled stops, according to Schuttevaer.nl.
- What is known about the investigation?
- The FBI is leading the investigation into the suspected murder. While the suspect is in custody at the Galveston County jail, officials have said that the exact sequence of events remains under investigation, as noted by Schuttevaer.nl.
- How often do such incidents occur on cruise ships?
- The FBI rarely intervenes in cases on cruise ships, despite the vessels’ massive scale, which can accommodate thousands of people, Schuttevaer.nl reported.
The suspect remains in custody at the Galveston County jail.